There have been some slight changes for this year. There will now be craftsmanship judging for the main contest and only one day for the hall cosplay contest. Please make sure to read through the rules COMPLETELY!

Another option is posting in this thread, but it may take a little longer to get back to you. The best option is via email. Cosplay staff does not use/check the A-Kon Facebook 'forums' so please do not post there if you have questions!

Don't forget there are still a TON of spots left for the official cosplay photo room! Info on how to request a spot can be found HERE

Go ahead and enter anyway. That rule was put into place because we have had people sign up for walk-ons with TWELVE to TWENTY people. It is physically impossible to get that many people across a stage in 30 seconds. (And really, WHY would you need that many people in a group?! That's a photoshoot, not a walk-on! ^_~)

I guess the new rules have helped me decide what costume to wear what day. I was going to hold out for the Saturday Hall Contest to wear my Cardinal Sforza, but since there isn't one on Saturday now, that costume will be worn on Friday. I would enter the Saturday night contest, but I get too jittery about being on stage, especially alone. It's a weird fear I have yet to conquer.

Yeah, we were very conflicted about losing the Saturday Hall Cosplay Contest, but in order to do craftsmanship judging for the main show, it had to be removed. There was just no other solid block of time for the stage show craftsmanship judging, unless we do it all day Saturday.

People have really wanted the craftsmanship judging to come back for the stage show, so hopefully this solution will work out. ^_^

I think judging craftsmanship in the stage show is a great idea myself. I just wish I had the nerve to get up there on stage at a con as big as A-kon (I'm okay at a small con in my hometown, but A-kon is just so big). I've been up there twice in the last few years receiving trophies during the halftime for the Hall Contest, but it's always with friends and it isn't being judged, so I'm a bit better. Who knows, I might give it a shot this year if my costume starts to turn out like I'm seeing in my head.

Go ahead and enter anyway. That rule was put into place because we have had people sign up for walk-ons with TWELVE to TWENTY people. It is physically impossible to get that many people across a stage in 30 seconds. (And really, WHY would you need that many people in a group?! That's a photoshoot, not a walk-on! ^_~)

Five is allowable. Six to eight, not so much.

--Elin (Cosplay Staff Head)

Oh, thank you! But we have just decided to enter that group in the Hall contest. We're thinking about entering a separate set of costumes in the main contest (only 3 of us). I appreciate you offering that up though!

so I have a question - if I go ahead and submit my entry, will I be able to withdraw? The reason I'm asking is that i'm entering at Matsuri but the competition is going to be FIERCE for the advanced category and if I don't win a major award, I'd like to compete at a-kon as well...

People drop out of the Cosplay Contest all the time. Some just don't ever show up to pick up their entry number, some find out last minute they can't make it to the con, some come to us and tell us they didn't finish their costumes, some have emergencies at the con and just can't make it to the actual contest itself. Stuff happens, we never hold it against anyone.

My group of 5 has already submitted an entry form as a skit (we're using dialogue bubbles, not a soundtrack) partly because I have a disability that slows me down. We need a little extra time (but not 3 minutes) to get on and off the stage. We'd really prefer to be judged as a walk-on.